The Caps got a power play goal from the best hockey player on the planet, Ovechkin (from John Carlson and goalie Braden Holtby) with just over a minute to go in the first period to give Washington the momentum early, quieting a rowdy Madison Square Garden crowd.

A physical second period ensued, but neither team was able to find nylon after 40 minutes of play.

The equalizer came just in the nick of time, a Kevin Hayes pass set up a timely strike from Jesper Fast around the four-minute mark, his first career playoff goal.

But it didn’t matter once the lightning bolt struck in the World’s Most Famous Arena, setting the Rangers back 0-1 in the seven-game set.